Should Nash Keep The 'C'?

Tuesday

Feb 28, 2012 at 12:01 AMFeb 28, 2012 at 10:34 PM

It will be interesting to see the many twists and turns that lie ahead the rest of the season, now that it's been made public by Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson that Rick Nash -- the club's captain since 2008, and a good soldier all along -- has asked to be traded.

Some will be angry at Nash. Others will understand his desire to leave, given that his career is at least half over and the Blue Jackets are parked in 30th place in the NHL.

Either way, a fair question to ask, given the recent developments, is if Nash should remain the Blue Jackets' captain. There are lots of adages in sports. One of them is: "If your captain wants out, you've got trouble."

Not so, say the Blue Jackets. Nash said he wants to keep the 'C.' Interim coach Todd Richards seemed offended that anybody would ask. To a man, players in the Blue Jackets dressing room made it clear they're still lining up behind Nash.

"We know what kind of guy he is," Blue Jackets winger Derek Dorsett said. "It doesn't matter what all you guys think. You guys can speculate all you want. We're beside Rick. We think he's a great captain.

"No one in here is mad at Rick. No one is mad at the Blue Jackets. It is what it is. We'll move on from it. We know Rick is going to give 110 percent the rest of the way. He's not going to just throw his stick on the ice. Some people are already speculating that it's going to be bad blood. Guys were joking around with him today on the ice. Everything is back to normal. It'll get blown out of proportion, I'm sure, but that's the media."

Winger R.J. Umberger acknowledged that the trade deadline, which passed at 3 p.m. Monday, was a major distraction. But said that had nothing to do with the actions of Nash, who kept his trade request private from his fellow teammates.

"The only thing I can really think about is just that he's been here since the start of his career and he's endured a lot more than anyone else in this locker room," Umberger said. "None of us truly know how much he has had to handle in his time here. He's been nothing but faithful and loyal to this organization and this community.

"It's only as awkward as people want to make it. The guys in this locker room won't make it awkward. We stand behind Nasher. He's our captain. What fans, the organization do is up to them. But as players, we respect. He deserves that 'C.'"

Nash said him keeping the "C" is management's decision. If it were up to him, he said, he'd remain the captain.

"I would love to keep it,"said Nash, who took overlate in the2007-08 season, ironically enough, after then-captain Adam Foote orchestrated his departure out of the Blue Jackets franchise.

"I believe I'm the leader of this group right now, and these guys. I think, no matter what, nothing has changed in my mind. I will still lead by example and go out there and do everything I can to win games for this city and for these fans."

And then there was Richards, who made it clear that any discussion of Nash being of stripped of the 'C' was, in his mind, out of line.

"When I think of Columbus – and this was previous to me getting here – it was Rick Nash," said Richards, who joined the organization over the summer. "I know, having spent this season with him -- and listening to other people talk, listening to my neighbors talk, listening to my kids talk -- I know what Rick has done for this community and this organization. He's done it for 10 years. He's been really committed and very loyal. And now everyone's questioning it. That's one thing I have a tough time understanding."

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

It will be interesting to see the many twists and turns that lie ahead the rest of the season, now that it's been made public by Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson that Rick Nash -- the club's captain since 2008, and a good soldier all along -- has asked to be traded.

Some will be angry at Nash. Others will understand his desire to leave, given that his career is at least half over and the Blue Jackets are parked in 30th place in the NHL.

Either way, a fair question to ask, given the recent developments, is if Nash should remain the Blue Jackets' captain. There are lots of adages in sports. One of them is: "If your captain wants out, you've got trouble."

Not so, say the Blue Jackets. Nash said he wants to keep the 'C.' Interim coach Todd Richards seemed offended that anybody would ask. To a man, players in the Blue Jackets dressing room made it clear they're still lining up behind Nash.

"We know what kind of guy he is," Blue Jackets winger Derek Dorsett said. "It doesn't matter what all you guys think. You guys can speculate all you want. We're beside Rick. We think he's a great captain.

"No one in here is mad at Rick. No one is mad at the Blue Jackets. It is what it is. We'll move on from it. We know Rick is going to give 110 percent the rest of the way. He's not going to just throw his stick on the ice. Some people are already speculating that it's going to be bad blood. Guys were joking around with him today on the ice. Everything is back to normal. It'll get blown out of proportion, I'm sure, but that's the media."

Winger R.J. Umberger acknowledged that the trade deadline, which passed at 3 p.m. Monday, was a major distraction. But said that had nothing to do with the actions of Nash, who kept his trade request private from his fellow teammates.

"The only thing I can really think about is just that he's been here since the start of his career and he's endured a lot more than anyone else in this locker room," Umberger said. "None of us truly know how much he has had to handle in his time here. He's been nothing but faithful and loyal to this organization and this community.

"It's only as awkward as people want to make it. The guys in this locker room won't make it awkward. We stand behind Nasher. He's our captain. What fans, the organization do is up to them. But as players, we respect. He deserves that 'C.'"

Nash said him keeping the "C" is management's decision. If it were up to him, he said, he'd remain the captain.

"I would love to keep it,"said Nash, who took overlate in the2007-08 season, ironically enough, after then-captain Adam Foote orchestrated his departure out of the Blue Jackets franchise.

"I believe I'm the leader of this group right now, and these guys. I think, no matter what, nothing has changed in my mind. I will still lead by example and go out there and do everything I can to win games for this city and for these fans."

And then there was Richards, who made it clear that any discussion of Nash being of stripped of the 'C' was, in his mind, out of line.

"When I think of Columbus – and this was previous to me getting here – it was Rick Nash," said Richards, who joined the organization over the summer. "I know, having spent this season with him -- and listening to other people talk, listening to my neighbors talk, listening to my kids talk -- I know what Rick has done for this community and this organization. He's done it for 10 years. He's been really committed and very loyal. And now everyone's questioning it. That's one thing I have a tough time understanding."